I feel like I’m still playing catch up with all the really cool products that I have been test driving, but haven’t yet had the chance to show you. Right before Christmas, I received a bunch of samples from Maybelline’s new 2012 product launches. I even took all the samples with me to Edmonton so I could photograph everything while I was away. It was fun because I got my stepsister, Nashwa, to join in and experiment with all the fun colours. Ok, there’s a lot of product, but here it goes…

First up – Maybelline’s Superstay 14H lipstick which will be available in 20 shades. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first because I’ve never been a fan of long-wearing makeup. I always found them to be drying and uncomfortable. However, this lipstick was surprisingly creamy and gave a bold payoff. Nashwa puts the lipsticks to the test. She applied the lipstick before dinner. After we were finished eating, the lip colour did not budge – I was impressed! They retail for $9.99 each.

Since Nashwa was testing the lipstick, I tested the Superstay 10H Stain Gloss which will be available in 10 shades. I love the look of stains, but I never purchase them because every lip stain I’ve tried in the past leaves my lips feeling tight and dry. They always drive me to obsessively apply some sort of lip balm afterwards. However, given that this one is a hybrid between a stain and gloss, I thought I would give it a try. Look at how interesting the wand is! The doe foot is bent at a slight angle, making the gloss easier to apply. Unlike regular doe foots, this one is also shaped differently. It is much wider and flatter which effectively allows me to cover more surface area with one swipe. The scent is a bit too candy-like for my preference, but the payoff was bold and the color was gorgeous (I was using Refreshing Red)! They retail for $9.99 each.

Next up – Maybelline’s new EyeStudio Color Tattoo which will be available in 10 shades. These are cream-gel shadows that are supposed to last for 24 hours. Again, I was impressed by the boldness and vibrancy of the colors. The texture melted easily with the temperature of my finger, allowing me to blend shadow quite effortlessly. Nashwa used a beautiful neutral color which gave her lids a luminous glow, while accentuating her dark lashes. They retail for $8.99 each.

After dabbing and blending the Color Tattoos, Nashwa then accentuated her eyes with Maybelline’s new Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner. It’s called Master Precise for a reason – look at how narrow the tip is (0.4 mm to be exact ;))? If you are looking for an eyeliner that is intensely black, long-wearing and does not skip, you may want to pick this one up. It is formulated with long wearing polymers which make it budge-proof and water resistant. Given that I have problems with my eyeliner smudging throughout the day (and not in a good way), I’m all for this long-wearing formula! This eyeliner retails for $9.99 each.

And last but certainly not least, the product that I was most excited about is Garnier’s new BB Cream – the Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector! I’ve been seeing BB Creams slowly make their way into the North American market in the last couple of months. If you are unfamiliar with the BB Cream concept, check out my post from last year here. After a quick application of this formula, which feels much like a tinted moisturizer, Nashwa was pleased that her skin looked immediately brighter and amazingly flawless! Here’s what you can expect from Garnier’s new BB Cream: it conceals blemishes, evens out skin tone, imparts radiance, hydrates the skin for 24 hrs and provides sun protection with an SPF of 15. Trust me, BB creams need to be a staple for anyone who wants to always fake flawless skin! It is available in 2 shades: light/medium and medium/dark and they retail for $19.99 each.

So by pairing a neutral eye with a bold lip, here’s Nashwa’s final look. Doesn’t she look glam?

Everything will be launching in drugstores and mass retailers across Canada towards the end of this month. Have fun!!

I have some of the long last lipsticks and love them too. The stain-glosses are really nice but if you want to try the best stain ever, YSL glossy stains are it, just bought 4 from Sephora and OMG they are divine !! Hopefully murale & Holts will be getting them in soon. Your sister is so beautiful, she looks like a glamour puss !!

http://www.thebeautynerd.com/ Connie

You’ve sold me… I’m already such a fan of YSL lip products… looks like I need to make a trip to Sephora this weekend :). Aww thanks, I will tell her you said that – she will be thrilled! xo